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SERIES CAPSULE: Minnesota @ FAU - February 18th - 21st, 2022

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Owls Open 2022 Season Versus Minnesota



What: Minnesota (0-0) vs. FAU (0-0)

When: Fri, Feb 18th @ 6:30 PM
           Sat, Feb 19th @ 4:00 PM
           Sun, Feb 20th @ 12:00 PM
           Mon, Feb 21st @ 6:30 PM

Where: FAU Baseball Stadium

Video: C-USA TV

Live Stats:Here

Minnesota Team Site: Here

Series: The Owls hold a 4-1 mark against the Gophers, but the teams have not met since 2004 (4-2 FAU)


Projected Starting Pitchers:

MIN- RHP Sam Ireland (0-3, 4.10 ERA 2021)
FAU- RHP Jacob Josey (0-1, 4.05 ERA 2021)

MIN- RHP Aidan Maldonado (0-2, 11.38 ERA 2021)
FAU- LHP Hunter Cooley (4-2, 4.23 ERA 2021)

MIN- RHP J.P. Massey (0-4, 10.80 ERA 2021)
FAU- RHP Braden Ostrander (1-3, 4.50 ERA 2021)

MIN- TBA
FAU- RHP Tibur Rivero (First Start)


Owl Notables

Head Coach John McCormack (443-274-2) enters his 14th year as the Owls' skipper, as the team looks to improve upon their 32 victories and  third-place finish in the C-USA East Division last season. He will have three 2022 D1 Baseball Preseason Power ranking (Top 50 at respective position) players at his disposal to aid in that endeavor.

Sophomore infielder Nolan Schanuel grabbed the No. 8 spot on the D1 list, after a spectacular 2021 showing while holding down first base. He is expected to play 3rd base in 2022 but may also return to first on occasion per FAU. The talented bat slinger was 2nd on the team with a .343 average, and drove in 54 runs with 11 long balls. Schanuel also posted a .444 OBP, and .576 slugging mark.

Catcher Caleb Pendleton was tabbed 25th behind the plate and finished 2021 with eight home runs, 24 RBI, starting 28 of 31 games in 2021. Most notable were his back-to-back grans slams against UCF in what were his first two collegiate at bats. Video of that happening is below.



Rounding out the trio, Mitch Hartigan was tabbed 46th by D1 baseball in the outfield. A four year veteran, Hartigan stands in at .319 all time in the batter's box, with a .522 slugging percentage. Hartigan blasted 19 doubles and 36 RBI in 2021. Most of his career has been spent in left field, but he could see time in right this year when called for as well.

On the hill, Preseason All C-USA pick Hunter Cooley will tow the line as the owls' leading returner. The lefty will also join catcher Nick Toney in serving as a team captain for 2022. Cooley finished last season tied for 2nd in C-USA with eight league wins, and 10th in ERA at 3.57. he saw the 2nd most time out of all hurlers in 2021 with 76.2 innings pitched.

The starters (in non batting order) for game one should be that of the below:

1B Jackson Ross
2B Joey Slattery
SS Dom Presto
3B Nolan Schanuel
C   Caleb Pendleton
P   Jacob Josey
RF Mitch Hartigan
CF Jalen DeBose
LF  Tyler Kelder

FAU will toss the first pitch of the 2022 season against the Gophers on the exact same day they first took the field against them 22 years ago, on February 18, 2000 in Boca Raton.
 

Gopher Notables

Minnesota opens its 2022 season with a 10-day road trip to Florida, where it will take on Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast and Indiana State.

Hoping to improve upon a shortened 2021 slate with only 37 total games where they went 6-31, the Gophers get back seven positional starters and multiple contributors on the mound, and have also added 14 newcomers, including nine freshmen and five Division I transfers.

Back on the bump to pace the starters are juniors Sam Ireland and Jack Liffrig, who started seven and 11 games, respectively, in 2021. These two led the team in ERA (4.10/4.36) and strikeouts (35/43) last season. A lefty, Liffrig is not listed as a starter for this weekend, but one has to think that might be by design. He posted the most innings last year in the Gopher rotation and also led in starts with 11 games.

Outfielder Easton Bertrand is the leading returner in batting average (.295) from last season. He also clubbed five home runs and 13 RBI, both of which were good for second on the team.

His compliment partner at bat, redshirt senior 1B Ronnie Sweeny, hit a club-best nine home runs and drove in 30 RBI while playing in all 37 games of the 2021 cycle.

Minnesota Media Relations
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Who's playing SS?

Joe Lascari
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PLAY BALL! FAU is set to begin the 2022 Season vs Gopher Baseball in 🌴⚾️🌴  #GoOwls 🦉🧢
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End 1st: FAU 0 Minnesota 1

The Gophers touch up Josey for a run, but he gets out of a bases loaded jam. The Owls leave two on to conclude the first inning of 2022. 🌴⚾️🌴
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Josey goes 2 1/3 in rough fashion before being pulled by Coach McCormack, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits, while walking four and issuing a HBP.

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End 3rd:  FAU 1  Minnesota 5

DH Dylan Goldstein crosses the plate for the Owls 1st run of the season, but Gophers answer with 4 spot in the 3rd to retake the lead. Josey (2.1IP, 5H, 5R, 4BB, 1HBP) departs for Marc DeGusipe. Owls leave 2 on the bags to end the frame  🌴⚾️🌴

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End 6th:  FAU 1  Minnesota 8

After a 1-2-3 effort in the 4th, DeGusipe (2.1IP, 5H, 3R, 2BB) sees Gophers tack on 3 runs in the 5th. Evan Waterbor takes the mound to retire the side and delivers the Owls 2nd DP. With just 4 hits thus far, FAU looking for some offense. 🌴⚾️🌴
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Top 9th: FAU 1  Minnesota 9

Gophers plate a run in the 7th on an Owl bobble at 1st. Schanuel swats a 2b to give FAU their 5th hit, but is left on. Hayden Compton (photo above) sets down Gophers in the 8th but Owls' bats are also quiet. They need a BIG 9th for hopes of a comeback. 🌴⚾️🌴

(Compton throws a 94 MPH fastball)

👀
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FINAL: FAU 1  Minnesota 9

Owls drop their 2022 opener to the Gophers, who connect for 5 2B, a HR, and swipe 4 bags. Schanuel, Loden, Goldstein, Ross, and DeBose (RBI) each with hits for FAU.

NEXT: vs Gophers Sat @ 4PM. Go Owls! 🦉🧢

UPDATED SCHEDULE: HERE
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Coach Mac's Post Game via Sarah:

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